4 May 2020
The Scottish Conservatives have urged the SNP to give housebuilding the green light, on the day construction returns south of the border.
The UK Government allowed work to recommence on building sites today (Monday), meaning across England firms can continue building homes and infrastructure projects so long as they can do so safely.
However, Nicola Sturgeon has refused permission to companies to resume work here, meaning sites around Scotland are still lying empty.
Companies including Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon have already expressed their desire to get back to work in Scotland.
And the Scottish Conservatives have now spoken to several other housebuilders who say they are ready to return safely, but the SNP government is standing in their way.
They said plans were in place to allow different tradesmen in on a rota system to ensure social distances, and that other adequate preparations had been made.
Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said:
“We’ve been clear from the start that if the SNP wants to take a divergent approach from the rest of the UK, it has to show why that’s of benefit.
“And while this is first and foremost a public health crisis, we have to acknowledge and plan for the economic devastation too.
“Now we’re seeing work resume on all kinds of building sites from today in England, while in Scotland these remain empty.
“This will cause a disparity when it comes to economic recovery, and that’s not something we want to see replicated across the board.
“If Nicola Sturgeon is to continue this ban on construction, she needs to produce compelling evidence about why she’s doing it.”
Scottish Conservative shadow housing minister Graham Simpson said:
“There is already a housing crisis across Scotland, and this needless delay by the SNP is only going to make that worse.
“The further Scotland lags behind under the SNP, the more people are going to miss out on the opportunity of moving into a home that’s either under construction or in planning.
“What’s more, the construction industry and all the trades associated will risk plunging deeper into financial disaster, and many won’t come back from that.
“The industry has said it can return to work safely and that’s what’s now happening elsewhere in the UK.
“It’s time for the SNP to listen to the experts and follow suit.”
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